Wind Mitigation Inspection in Florida: How Your Roof Affects It

A wind mitigation inspection in Florida is a short home inspection that records the features that help your house stand up to hurricane winds. Insurers use the report to decide which wind discounts you qualify for, and those discounts can lower your premium.

Your roof is a big part of that report. Here's how wind mitigation inspections work, who can do them, and how your roof plays into the results.

Why Wind Mitigation Inspections Exist

Florida law requires home insurers to offer discounts, credits, or other rate breaks for features that reduce wind damage. The law lists things like:

• Roof strength
• Roof covering performance
• Roof to wall strength
• Opening protection, like storm shutters
• Window, door, and skylight strength

Your insurer can't just guess which of these your home has. A wind mitigation inspection documents them on an official state form. That form is called the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form.

Insurers must also tell you about these discounts. When your policy is issued and each time it renews, they have to send you a notice that explains the discounts available and what you might do to lower your windstorm premium.

Who Can Do a Wind Mitigation Inspection

Florida law lists who can sign the form. Insurers must accept a form signed by:

• A licensed home inspector who has completed approved hurricane mitigation training and passed a proficiency exam
• A certified building code inspector
• A licensed general, building, or residential contractor
• A licensed professional engineer
• A licensed professional architect

Insurers may also accept other people they recognize as qualified. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation urges homeowners to choose their inspector with care and to make sure the inspector is authorized under state law.

Tip: ask your insurance company before you book. Some have their own rules or preferred inspectors.

How Long a Wind Mitigation Report Lasts

According to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, the form is valid for up to five years, as long as no major changes are made to the home and no errors are found on the form.

That "major changes" part matters. A new roof is a big change. If you replace your roof, it's smart to get a new wind mitigation inspection so your insurer sees the upgrades.

The state also updated the form in 2026. If your last report is a few years old, ask your agent whether a new one makes sense.

How Your Roof Affects the Results

A lot of the form comes down to your roof and how it's tied to the house. The current form covers building code, roof covering, roof deck attachment, roof to wall attachment, secondary water resistance, and opening protection. Here's how the roof items work.

Roof Covering

Inspectors look at what's on your roof and whether it was installed to a modern code. A roof put on with a permit under the current Florida Building Code usually scores better than an old roof with no records.

Keep your roof permit and paperwork. They can help prove when and how your roof was installed.

Roof Deck Attachment

This is how well the plywood or boards are nailed to the roof frame. Bigger nails placed closer together hold the deck down better in high wind. Inspectors often check this from the attic.

Roof to Wall Attachment

This is how the roof frame connects to the walls. Clips and straps hold better than nails alone. FEMA recommends straps or extra clips to fasten your roof to the frame of your home.

Secondary Water Resistance

This is an extra water barrier on the roof deck. It helps keep rain out if the top layer gets damaged. State law calls for roof replacements on many older homes to include one. Learn more in our guide to roof underlayment in Florida.

Roof Slope

The 2026 form added roof slope. If your home has more than one slope, the inspector notes it. You can't change this easily, but it's part of the picture.

Does a New Roof Help My Wind Mitigation Report?

Often, yes. When we replace a roof, the job is permitted and inspected under the current code. During a replacement, the decking is exposed, so problems with old fasteners or rotted wood can be fixed. That's the best chance you'll get to improve the parts of your roof that wind inspectors care about.

We can't promise any specific discount. That's up to your insurer and your inspection. But if your roof is old, a new one paired with a fresh wind mitigation report is worth talking over with your agent. Learn more about our roof replacement service, or see how metal roofing handles Florida weather.

Wind Mitigation vs a Roof Inspection

People mix these up all the time. They're not the same thing.

• Wind mitigation inspection: Fills out a state form for your insurance company. It records wind features. It doesn't tell you if your roof leaks or how much life it has left.
• Roof inspection: A roofer checks the condition of your roof. Are there leaks, damage, worn shingles, or soft spots? How many good years are left?

Many homeowners need both. The wind mitigation report helps with your premium. A roof inspection tells you what shape your roof is really in.

There's one more reason roof condition matters. Under Florida law, if your roof is at least 15 years old, your insurer must let you get a roof inspection by an authorized inspector, at your cost, before it can require a new roof to issue or renew your policy. If that inspection shows at least five years of useful life left, the insurer can't refuse to cover you based on roof age alone.

Quick FAQ

How long does a wind mitigation inspection take?

It's usually much shorter than a full home inspection. The inspector checks the roof, attic, windows, and doors, and takes photos.

Do I need one if I just bought my home?

Ask your agent. A report from the seller may still be valid if it's less than five years old and nothing major has changed. A new one may catch features the old one missed.

Can my roofer do the wind mitigation inspection?

It depends on their license. Check the list above, and check with your insurer.

Book a Roof Inspection

Before you lean on a wind report, know what shape your roof is really in. Don Schmidt Roofing is a family owned roofer in St. Cloud since 1988. We're A+ rated with the BBB, licensed and insured, and an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor. We serve St. Cloud, Kissimmee, Orlando, and Osceola County.

Book a roof inspection or call (407) 892-9884.